"The title of a first-rank prince's wife includes a phoenix crown, one thousand taels of gold, and twelve bolts of silk..."
Looking at the secret letter sent from the capital with the utmost urgency, a hint of satisfaction flashed in Helian Jue's eyes.
He knew that neither the emperor nor the court officials wanted to credit him, the deposed crown prince, and that the second and fifth princes, among other fools, were doing their utmost to elevate Xie Shi and belittle him.
Helian Jue had already made arrangements in the capital and secretly fueled the flames.
Sure enough, the curved plow, or rather, the "Yuande plow," became Xie Yuan's achievement alone.
Although Xie Yuan did indeed deserve credit for this, in ancient times when patriarchal and husbandly authority prevailed, it was considered a significant achievement for a woman to make a contribution.
Before marriage, the credit will be attributed to the father and elder brother.
Once she is married, her husband or son will receive the favor.
If it weren't for Helian Jue's special circumstances and his initiative in creating public opinion, Xie might not have been able to obtain an imperial decree through his own efforts.
"...I owed you a wedding ceremony and an imperial decree! Now, I've repaid you!"
Helian Jue lit the secret letter and then threw it into the brush washer.
After the letter was burned to ashes, Helian Jue poured some water into it, and everything was left without a trace.
...
The sage's reward is still on its way; at least, the people of Yuezhou are unaware of it yet.
Cui Boyong had been keeping a close eye on the movements of the "Yue King's Mansion," but Xie Yuan had kept the matter of the curved plow very well hidden.
The news spread throughout the capital, but Cui Boyong didn't hear a word of it.
He is still worried about the military training at the Yue King's Palace.
"Have you found out? Those soldiers are still practicing how to walk and how to fold blankets?"
"Reporting to my lord, the Prince's military camp is heavily guarded. We can only scout from the outside; we can't sneak in at all."
The Cui family's retainer knelt on the ground and said cautiously, "However, I have inquired and found that their training only lasts for three months."
In three months, all he could do was practice walking and folding blankets.
There's simply not enough time for the other training subjects.
"Three months?"
Cui Boyong did some quick calculations and realized that more than two months had passed since the Yue King's mansion began recruiting soldiers.
In less than a month, will those soldiers be considered trained?
"Yes! I also heard that those soldiers are going to be sent to the imperial estates to reclaim wasteland!"
"Clearing the land?"
Cui Boyong was taken aback at first, then quickly realized, "Haha! Right! Right! We have to clear the land!"
He really screwed over the Prince Yue's manor in the matter of the imperial estate.
"Tsk! I told you, those women have no idea what's going on outside!"
Everyone says that Xie is virtuous and capable, but Cui Boyong doesn't think so.
The matter of the imperial estate alone is enough to prove Xie's shortsightedness and stupidity.
The number of acres has indeed increased, but they are all riverbanks and mountainous areas, which are not suitable for growing crops.
"..."
Seeing Cui Boyong laughing heartily, the servant suddenly thought of something and wanted to say it, but was afraid of spoiling his master's good mood.
Cui Boyong noticed the servant's subtle movements and asked, "What are you thinking about? Just say it!"
"That's right,"
When the question was brought to his face, the sergeant dared not hide it any longer. He carefully chose his words and said, "When I was gathering information in the military camp, I heard the soldiers mention 'salt'."
At this point, Buqu glanced discreetly at Cui Boyong's expression.
Cui Boyong fell into deep thought. He wasn't stupid after all. Thinking back to the reason for his earlier laughter, he asked, "You mean the Xie family wasn't forced to accept those beaches, but rather had planned this all along?"
And Cui, who thought his design was successful, was he "too clever for his own good"? Or was he "too clever for his own good"?
Sensing the displeasure in Cui Boyong's words, the servant hurriedly kowtowed, "This servant is stupid! This...this was just my own idea!"
"It was Xie who was too clever for her own good. She thought that salt could be boiled anywhere by the sea. Little did she know that boiling salt also requires sufficient timber and convenient transportation."
The clerks were just making excuses to help Cui Boyong shirk responsibility.
Unexpectedly, this reminded Cui Boyong.
"Haha! That's right! I served as the governor of Yuezhou for several years, so I naturally know that not all beaches are suitable for boiling salt."
"The beach area I designated for the Yue King's Palace has no villages or lush forests."
There are no people, no wood, and even boiling salt is difficult!
right!
That was exactly what I thought back then.
He didn't fall for Xie's tricks; in fact, he was even more cunning than Xie!
Thinking this way, Cui Boyong felt much better.
"...This Xie family is still too much of an eyesore!"
Helian Jue started to give up on himself, drinking heavily all day long, and became a hopeless case.
But then a woman named Xie appeared, showing her face in public and running around doing all the work, managing to keep the royal palace afloat.
If it weren't for her, or if she and Helian Jue were to drift apart, the Yue Prince's Mansion would be nothing to fear!
"Hmm, we have to think of a way."
Cui Boyong pondered, and couldn't help but mutter to himself.
Even if we can't make Xie and Helian Jue turn against each other, we must at least prevent Xie from helping Helian Jue anymore.
How do you make a woman turn her love for a man into hatred?
"envy!"
Hearing Cui Boyong's mutterings, the clerk couldn't help but blurt out, "Women are all jealous. What if Helian Jue has another woman, falls in love with someone else, and neglects his wife for his concubine—"
If Xie herself can't even hold onto her position as a princess, would she still wholeheartedly devote herself to the Prince's Mansion?
Cui Boyong's eyes lit up. That's right, women are all jealous.
Once they become jealous, they don't care about the big picture at all; they only get caught up in their own little corner of the backyard!
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